The natural gas-powered M/S Kvitbjorn of Nor Lines is ready to operate as one of the world’s most environmentally friendly vessels. The ship is the first one of two LNG-powered cargo ships to replace older tonnage in regular transport service between North Europe and coast of Norway to the north of the country.

MS Kvitbjorn

The new LNG-powered vessels have been built in collaboration with Rolls Royce. Except the use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), innovations in propulsion, hull design and power generation on board have been included .

Rolls-Royce received the maritime Heyerdahl Award 2014 for its Environship Concept, represented in the new LNG-powered Nor Lines vessels.

The innovative design provides significant reductions in emissions due to new hull design, highly efficient LNG powered engine and propulsion systems.

The LNG vessel type received other three awards: the Next Generation Ship Award (2011), the Green Ship Technology Award (2013) and the Environmental Award – Transport and Logistics (2013).

The vessels will have the ability to load at worst 200 trucks cargo which will increase the flexibility for transportation between road and rail to the ship. The ro-ro capacity of the vessels allows direct loading into and out of the carriers. The significantly larger crane onboard, gives flexibility when the loading is at piers with no cranes available.

Both vessels, the MS Kvitbjorn and MS Kvitnos, of Nor Lines will have LNG operating engine systems. The ships are expected to be delivered in July, as the first two renewals in the fleet of Nor Lines and part of their upgrading strategy.

The LNG-powered cargo ships in compare with the older ships are characterized by having a reduction of CO2 emissions by 38%, NOx emissions by 90%, an 18% less energy use and eliminated SOx and particulate emissions.

Source: Nor Lines